Ten Stagesbhumi
Syn: Ten Grounds; Bhumi.
See also: Dasabumika Sutra; Fifty-two Levels of Bodhisattva Practice.
W "Ten Stages (or Ten Bhumi) through which the practitioner advances in Buddhist practice. In the system of the fifty-two (or fifty-three) levels of Bodhisattva practice, they are viewed as the forty-first through fiftieth levels. There are several 'ten stages' of varying content listed in different scriptures. The Avatamsaka Sutra divides Buddhist practice into ten Stages, as follows: (1) the stage of joy (Skt./Paramudita), in which one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the truth; (2) the stage of purity (vimala), in which one is free from all defilement; (3) the stage of the emission of light (prabhakari), in which one radiates the light of wisdom; (4) the stage of glowing (archishmati), in which the flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires; (5) the stage of overcoming final illusions (sudurjaya), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way; (6) the stage of the sign of supreme wisdom (abhimukhi), in which supreme wisdom begins to appear; (7) the stage of progression (duramgama), in which one rises above the states of the Two Vehicles; (8) the stage of immobility (achala), in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything; (9) the stage of the all-penetrating wisdom (sadhumati), in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction; and (10) the stage of the [Cloud of Teaching] (dharmamegha), in which one benefits all sentient beings with the Law (Dharma), just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all things."
Sokk: 439
In other words, "the ten Stages of developing Bodhi-wisdom are (1) joy at benefiting oneself and others, (2) freedom from all possible defilement, (3) the emission of the light of Wisdom, (4) glowing Wisdom, (5) overcoming the utmost difficulties, (6) the realization of Wisdom, (7) proceeding far, (8) the attainment of immobility, (9) the attainment of expedient Wisdom, and (10) the ability to spread the teachings over the Dharmadhatu (the whole universe) as clouds overspread the sky."
Yoko: 214-215 Avatamsaka Sutra:
Of the Ten Stages of Bodhisattvahood the first stage is the Stage of Extreme Joy, which is described as follows in the Avatamsaka Sutra: "Here, standing on the stage of extreme joy of Bodhisattvas, one is filled with extreme joy, filled with calm, filled with happiness, filled with ebullience ... One becomes extremely joyful, thinking of the Buddha [Buddha-recitation], of the Buddha's teaching ... Thus thinking, the Bodhisattva gives rise to extreme joy. Why? Because that is what happens to all fears with the Bodhisattva's attainment of the stage of joy - fears such as fear of not surviving, fear of ill-repute, fear of death, fear of falling into the Evil Realms, fear of intimidation by groups ... thus all fears and terrors are removed." (T. Cleary, tr., The Flower Ornament Sutra.) Clear: II/15
Note: In current Buddhist usage, the word "stage" is sometimes used for any of the fifty-two levels of Bodhisattva practice and not necessarily for one of the ten Bhumis (the 41st through the 50th levels). The reader should therefore keep the distinction in mind when studying Mahayana texts. Editor: na #0287
► TEN STAGES SUTRA See: Dasabhumika Sutra.
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